HEALTHY FUTURES HASBRO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL • 2023
COVER: Hasbro Children’s Hospital patient Jadiel with his mother, Ixadalys. Read about how a team of specialists led by Pediatric Surgeon-in-Chief, Francois I. Luks, MD, performed a successful in utero surgical procedure to correct his spina bifida on pages 4-5. ABOVE: Smiles abound at Camp Dotty. Learn more about The Tomorrow Fund’s support on page 22.
MESSAGES FROM LEADERSHIP
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any have heard us say that healthcare is a team sport, and we couldn’t be prouder of our Lifespan teams—continually keeping our patients at the heart of everything we do while Delivering health with care.
At Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Rhode Island’s only pediatric hospital, we have MVPs across all areas of clinical care, research, and teaching. But we couldn’t do it without all of you—our most valuable partners in philanthropy. Your extraordinary support helps us not only treat the children and families that come through our doors, but to also improve the health and quality of life of kids in our community.
Thank you for caring and giving. Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr.
Chairman, Lifespan Board of Directors Chairman, Rhode Island Hospital Board of Trustees
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t is always interesting to reflect on the past year— to remember challenges overcome and accomplishments shared. We emerged from COVID19 and we found some very meaningful ways to celebrate the resiliency of the hospital’s patients and staff in 2023. As I look back on our signature fundraising events—the Radiothon, our annual Golf Invitational, and the Heroes Ball—it reminds me how tremendous things can happen when we gather as a community to support Hasbro Children’s Hospital. With important destination programs like fetal surgery to treat spina bifida in utero, and our medical-psychiatric programs for children with complex medical and emotional challenges, Hasbro Children’s meets its tripartite mission every day: excellence in patient care,
John Fernandez
President and Chief Executive Officer Lifespan
research, and education. I am continually reminded how fortunate we are in Rhode Island to have this jewel of a hospital "just up the road.” The successes are a collaboration of many, and none of this work is possible without our generous donor community. As supporters, we have much to look forward to in the year ahead including the hospital’s 30th birthday on Valentine’s Day. Since before the doors opened in 1994, philanthropy has been a driving force in our success and continues to be more important than ever. Thank you for being part of our donor family.
On behalf of everyone who benefits from your kindness, thank you!
Robert K. Vincent
Chair, Rhode Island Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees 3
FETAL SURGERY DELIVERS HOPE TO FAMILIES “There’s no way of knowing exactly how things would be if we didn’t have the procedure, but I strongly believe my baby is walking today because of it.” —Ixadalys Rolon-Otero
Jadiel today at physical therapy
New England, a longtime partnership between Hasbro Children’s Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital. Additional testing revealed the fetus had the neural tube defect spina bifida, or myelomeningocele, which means the spinal cord failed to close during the first four weeks of fetal development. Spina bifida can cause serious complications, including paralysis, incontinence, and accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain. “That was really hard to hear,” Ixadalys says. “My husband and I were not prepared for the news, and I started feeling very depressed.”
hen Ixadalys Rolon-Otero first learned about spina bifida while studying medical billing and coding, she never imagined the birth defect would someday affect her own family.
She also felt motivated to do anything she could to help her baby, whom she’d later name Jadiel—even if it came with risks to herself. And there was one bright spot in the difficult situation: earlier in 2018, the Fetal Treatment Program of New England’s team of specialists, led by Hasbro Children’s Pediatric Surgeon-in-Chief, Francois I. Luks, MD, performed New England’s first successful inutero surgical procedure for spina bifida.
But in the fall of 2019, when she was 19 weeks pregnant with her second child, she heard the devastating news that his fetal ultrasound was abnormal. Ixadalys’ Providence-based obstetrician immediately referred her to the highly specialized Fetal Treatment Program of
That meant Ixadalys could access the best, and most advanced, treatment for her son’s condition without having to leave her home city. For two decades, the program’s team of surgeons and clinicians has performed extremely delicate in-utero surgical
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procedures for various conditions, such as twinto-twin transfusion syndrome, and more recently, diaphragmatic hernia and spina bifida. In the past, surgical operations to treat spina bifida were performed after birth. In the last few years, the operation has also been performed before a baby is born. Undergoing the procedure while the baby is still in the womb presents risks and discomfort to the mother, and not all women are appropriate candidates for it. Additionally, it could potentially induce labor, leading the baby to be born prematurely. But overall, research indicates that undergoing the procedure in utero is associated with better outcomes. “Operating on the fetus before birth can have several benefits,” says Dr. Luks. “Number one, it improves chances of walking. Statistically, the chances of walking for children born with spina bifida of Jadiel’s type is about 20 percent. About one in five will walk without assistance of a wheelchair, cane, or walker. If you do the fetal operation and everything goes as planned, then the chances double, going from 20 to 40 percent.” After several meetings and screenings with her Fetal Treatment Program team, Ixadalys learned she was eligible to undergo the procedure. Together with her team, she decided the benefits outweighed the potential risks. “I knew if it was an option, I was going to do it,” she says. “It was the best thing for my son. I was thinking about him before myself.” The challenging operation, performed by a team of 10 surgeons and clinicians, first involved performing a Cesarean section-like incision to expose the uterus and the 25-week fetus. Then, through intricate, microscopeassisted work, Hasbro Children’s neurosurgeons, led by Konstantina Svokos, DO, repaired the damage to the tiny fetus’ spinal cord and applied a skin patch. Both Ixadalys and her son, Jadiel, were individually monitored by their own physician teams throughout the operation.
Jadiel, one month old
“We closed the exposed spinal cord and covered it with skin so that further damage could not occur,” Dr. Luks explains. “If we did not do the operation, in the best situation, there was a significant risk that he would be paralyzed from the waist down because of progressive damage.” Before and after the procedure, Ixadalys felt emotionally supported and well informed by Dr. Luks and the program’s fetal treatment coordinator, Debra Watson-Smith, RN. “They were there with me and my husband before and after surgery, and they made us feel comfortable,” she says. “It’s hard when you don’t know what to expect and you don’t know if your child’s going to be okay. But they reassured us, which made the whole process a little easier.” The procedure was successful, and, a little more than two months later, at the end of February, Jadiel was born by Cesarean section. Now three and a half, he receives ongoing physical and occupational therapy, and regular care from the hospital’s urology and neurology specialists. He loves coloring, painting, and playing with his six-year-old sister. And Ixadalys is thrilled Jadiel is able to walk, currently with assistance from a walker. “There’s no way of knowing exactly how things would be if we didn’t have the procedure,” she says, “but I strongly believe my baby is walking today because of it.” 5
THE LAWSONS ARE LIVING THEIR LEGACY Seeing their past support to the hospital's medicalpsychiatric care unit in action during a recent visit inspired the Lawsons to want to make another big impact with their philanthropy. “From my career working with kids with disabilities and knowing what it takes to successfully develop programs for them, walking through and seeing the incredible staff and the welcoming atmosphere just grabbed my heart,” Cathy says.
Cathy and Tom Lawson
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hilanthropic giving is one of Cathy and Tom Lawson’s biggest joys. But while growing up, neither could have imagined they would one day be in a position to make a significant financial impact in others’ lives. Because of their relatively modest upbringing, the Barrington couple never takes their ability to make a difference at Hasbro Children’s Hospital for granted. They have been donating generously to support patients and their families for the past several years and also give to Bradley Hospital. Their most recent gift, of $500,000, will help fund an outpatient expansion of Hasbro Children’s nationally renowned medical-psychiatric program. Cathy’s longstanding commitment serving youth is one of the reasons why the Lawsons have chosen to support the hospital. When the couple met many decades ago, she was working as a speech pathologist for children with special needs. About 20 years ago, they moved from Dallas, Texas, to Rhode Island when Tom landed a career advancement opportunity at the Johnston headquarters of FM Global.
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Tom and Cathy like to joke that while he’s the experienced business CEO, she’s the “philanthropy CEO” in the family. Her passion recently motivated them to establish the Lawson Charitable Foundation. With a mission to “help those who are working hard to help themselves and/or others,” the Foundation prioritizes funding needs related to children, veterans, small nonprofits, and respite care.
“We believe that with success comes responsibility, and we feel privileged to be able to help.” —Cathy and Tom Lawson Another way Tom is staying active in his retirement is through serving on the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. “It has given me a great opportunity to learn more about the hospital and the wonderful ways it is bringing excellent research, doctors, and programs to the community,” he says. With their son, Will, grown and living in Texas, and Tom retired, the couple’s multi-faceted approach to giving back is now a main focus in their lives, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. “We believe that with success comes responsibility, and we feel privileged to be able to help,” they say.
PROVIDENCE BRUINS GIVE BACK IN A BIG WAY
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ove and support for Hasbro Children’s Hospital filled the Amica Mutual Pavilion this past hockey season when fans threw stuffed animals on the ice as part of the Providence Bruins’ first-ever teddy bear toss. Held during second intermission, the coordinated shower of plush toys was just one part of a celebratory Hasbro Children’s Hospital Family Day hosted by the P-Bruins. The team also honored patients and staff, including 2023 Champion Child Ethan James, who dropped the puck to start the game. In all, the organization collected more than 10,000 bears during the game and raised nearly $25,000 for the hospital through the Family Day and a 50/50 raffle. “We know that so many of our season ticket holders and partners really care about the hospital and have relied on it for care,” says Stephanie Parrillo, Vice President of Special Events & Community Initiatives for the Providence Bruins. The organization’s support of Hasbro Children’s extends to other initiatives throughout the year. Working with the Division of Motor Vehicles, the team offers Rhode Island drivers the opportunity to buy a specialty Bruins plate for an extra $10 fee during registration. Proceeds benefit the hospital, as well as Rhode Island Youth Hockey.
Rhode Island, stays in Rhode Island,” says Boston Bruins Foundation President Bob Sweeney. During the holiday season, the Providence Bruins team up with Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to deliver a busload of toys to children at the hospital. Fans donate toys and several P-Bruins players take time out of their busy schedules to personally shop for additional items. “That was one of my favorite days to plan,” says Stephanie. “The guys loved finding the right kid for each toy. They also signed autographs, took pictures with patients, and spent time playing with them—because being in the hospital right before Christmas is something nobody wants.” The organization’s partnership with Hasbro Children’s is especially meaningful to Stephanie because the hospital was there for her family when they needed it. Many years ago, when she was in middle school, her brother Stephen was treated for bone cancer over the course of more than a year. Stephanie also recalls with gratitude how supportive The Tomorrow Fund was during her brother’s difficult journey. “Thankfully, we have a success story,” she says. “It’s because of Hasbro Children’s that he’s still alive, and I’ll never take the ability to give back for granted.”
“The Bruins Foundation supports charities throughout New England, and it’s important that money raised in 7 7
PHILANTHROPIC ROLE MODELS
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hen Brad Dimeo was growing up, he saw firsthand how involved his parents Tom and Sandy were in supporting the community. Tom Dimeo served as a leader on numerous boards and councils across the nonprofit sector in Rhode Island. Together, he and Sandy gave generously of their time and talent even while raising a family and growing a successful business with Dimeo Construction Company and Dimeo Properties. They were important philanthropic role models for Brad, who is the family’s third generation President and CEO of Dimeo Construction Company. Today, Brad has deep appreciation for his parents’ core values to help strengthen the Rhode Island communities in which he works and lives. He and his wife Kim are carrying on the family's legacy of giving back and Hasbro Children’s Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital are grateful beneficiaries of the Dimeo family’s longstanding generosity. “The hospitals are great providers of care, as well as an important generator of economic activity, and my dad saw it as an important place to invest,” Brad says. This year, Brad and Kim established the Dimeo Family Fund at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Their $250,000 pledge will support the most urgent needs in pediatrics each year. Having the ability to identify the hospital’s most pressing needs annually provides flexibility to hospital leadership, and that is a true gift. The family will be an important collaborator and have the opportunity to learn and understand programs and priorities.
Dimeo Family Lower Lobby
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Support from the Dimeo family and Dimeo Construction also extends to generous sponsorship of the hospital’s signature events—the annual Heroes Ball and the Hasbro Children’s Golf Invitational.
“We have always been impressed by the incredible staff and care provided at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, so we always do what we can to give back,” says Brad. Brad currently serves on the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation Board. “I had some capacity to take on additional roles in the community, and I jumped at the chance to support the Foundation board,” he says. “The work has been eye-opening and meaningful.” He is also a member of the Hasbro Children’s Hospital Leadership Council. In recognition of his outstanding volunteer leadership, Brad was awarded Lifespan’s Edward Iannuccilli, MD, Civic Leader of the Year Award in 2022. The special award is presented to someone who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and exemplifies the work of Dr. Iannuccilli—a longtime family friend, supporter, physician, and former member of both the Lifespan Board and Rhode Island Hospital Foundation Board. “Dr. Iannuccilli took care of my uncle back in the ‘70s when he was challenged with cancer,” Brad says. “It was a huge honor and really meaningful to receive an award named after him.” Brad’s community engagement reaches far beyond healthcare. Along with his volunteer leadership at Lifespan, he has served on the boards of United Way of Rhode Island, the Providence Public Library Foundation, Crossroads Rhode Island, YMCA of Greater Providence, and the Providence Foundation, among other organizations. Dimeo Construction also has been a longstanding building partner across the Lifespan campus and recently provided extensive upgrades to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “We were thrilled to get selected to renovate the building through a very competitive process,” Brad says.
Brad, Blakely, and Kim Dimeo
“Most of the work happened during COVID, and it was just a tremendous effort by the whole team, from the hospital leadership and staff, the design side to the build side, to the subcontractors to the trades people that got the work done in a really tough environment, with all of the COVID protocols. Everybody worked together and persevered, and by all accounts it has been a huge success that we are very proud of.” Visitors to Hasbro Children’s Hospital now enter through the new, modern Dimeo Family Lower Lobby. Whether they’re bringing a child for treatment, or they are visiting a loved one, hopefully they realize there are people in the community like the Dimeos who care and that a family’s legacy of kindness and philanthropy has helped make Hasbro Children’s Hospital a very special place.
“We have always been impressed by the incredible staff and care provided at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, so we always do what we can to give back.” —Brad Dimeo
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HASBRO, INC.’S TIMELESS LEGACY OF GIVING
Providing Joy (and Play-Doh!) During Times of Uncertainty
Team Hasbro at Summer Cookout
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ince Hasbro Children’s Hospital opened 30 years ago, the generosity and spirit of Hasbro, Inc. has remained ever-present down every corridor of the hospital. From the iconic My Little Pony, Mr. Potato Head, Peppa Pig and Transformers that line the front windows, to the generous donations of toys and games enjoyed by patients of all ages, Hasbro’s mission to entertain through the “wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play” is alive and well at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “Corporate social responsibility is at Hasbro’s core because it's woven into our DNA—we believe in making a positive impact through philanthropy,” says Kevin Colman, Senior Director of Global Philanthropy and Social Impact at Hasbro. “Since our founding a century ago, giving back to our communities, especially children and families, has been an important priority of our business. Today, our purpose is to create joy and
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community for all people around the world, one toy, one game, one story at a time.” Striving to provide stability and moments of joy during times of uncertainty—including a hospital stay—Hasbro toys and games not only give children and families a sense of the normalcy of home, but they are also tools that Child Life Specialists and Healing Arts staff use with patients in therapeutic play and creativity while receiving medical care. “We love how these programs serve the whole child supporting their psychosocial, developmental, and educational needs,” Kevin says. “So much of the hospital experience can be challenging and scary for children, and the Child Life Specialists are there to ensure that children still get to be kids. Supporting this program is perfectly aligned with our company’s purpose and mission.”
“Since we opened our doors, Hasbro, Inc. has been committed to providing our patients with the gift of play,” says Micaela Materne, Manager of Child Life Services. “We see every day how playful experiences lead to more positive health outcomes. The Child Life team values everything that Hasbro, Inc. brings to the healing process for our patients.” In addition to the company’s generous philanthropic support, which includes a presenting sponsorship of the annual Heroes Ball, Hasbro employees have several opportunities to volunteer at the hospital throughout the year. Staff and patients alike enjoy seeing the blue “Team Hasbro” t-shirts during Game Days, seasonal cookouts, the annual Radiothon, and the Global Day of Joy. “That engagement is very important to our staff,” Kevin says. “Our employees are passionate about supporting Hasbro Children’s, and their dedication to volunteering and supporting the hospital is awe-inspiring.” This year the Child Life program was the beneficiary of Hasbro’s team-based fundraising event, the Raffle Rumble. A day like no other, employees competed to raise money for Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “This event truly speaks to the passion of our employees to go above and beyond to support the patients and families at Hasbro Children’s Hospital,” Kevin says. “We were thrilled that in just two hours we raised $36,000!”
Team Hasbro at Global Day of Joy
But nothing is quite as cherished as Hasbro’s Global Day of Joy, a company-wide day of service held each December around the world. In Rhode Island, local employees and executive leadership spend time visiting patients and families at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “This is a true highlight of the day for our executives since they love bringing some holiday cheer to the floors of the hospital and seeing the smiles on the faces of the patients as they pass out Hasbro toys and games,” Kevin says. From its founding 100 years ago by the Hassenfeld brothers, Hasbro has grown into an admired international brand with far-reaching philanthropic contributions and impact. However, Hasbro is proud to remain focused on supporting its local community and for that we are enormously grateful. “Being headquartered in Rhode Island makes our partnership with Hasbro Children's Hospital particularly meaningful,” Kevin says. “It allows us to make a real difference in the lives of children right here in our own backyard. Knowing that our iconic brand is making a meaningful difference in every corner of the hospital is incredibly fulfilling and it reinforces our purpose to create joy and community. It's a reminder that our purpose goes beyond toys and games; it's about creating a better world for children and families, and we're honored to be a part of that every single day.”
Hasbro, Inc.'s CEO Chris Cocks delivers toys to patients
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CELEBRATING TWO LIFESAVING PROGRAMS LEAD
n June 1, under blue sunny skies, patient families gathered at Hasbro Children’s Hospital with clinicians and program supporters to commemorate the milestone anniversaries of our nationally recognized medical-psychiatric programs. The joyful occasion marked the Hasbro Partial Hospital Program’s twenty-fifth year and the Judge Bruce M. Selya and Cynthia Selya Integrated Care Unit’s tenth. Guests raised a glass to toast the strength of our patient families, the expertise of our multidisciplinary care teams, and our generous community of philanthropic supporters. Delivering heartfelt remarks about the programs’ lifesaving accomplishments, The Honorable Bruce Selya shared why he and his wife Cindy are dedicated supporters of the Integrated Care Unit, fondly known as “Selya 6.” "Philanthropy, done right, should be a gift to the spirit of the giver as much as it is a gift to the spirit of the beneficiary,” he says. “Nothing has raised our spirits more
than the wonderful things that have been accomplished by this program generally and in Selya 6 in particular." These two essential programs address the complex needs of children who require simultaneous treatment for psychiatric and medical illnesses. “These kids are here because their physical challenges are intersecting with their emotional challenges in a way that requires both to really be treated and targeted at the same time,” explains Diane DerMarderosian, MD, Co-Director of the Partial Hospital Program. The Hasbro Partial Hospital Program was established in 1998 to address an emerging need for patients needing both medical and psychiatric care. In an immersive outpatient day program, children receive the integrated expertise of a pediatrician and a psychologist or psychiatrist. The successful program provides multidisciplinary care in one place, eliminating the need for families to go back and forth between medical and psychiatric teams. Children attend the program five days a week. This approach now serves as a national model and standard of care for this patient population.
Wayne and Jeanie Charness, Bruce and Cynthia Selya, and Joseph Pannozzo
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Henry T. Sachs III, MD
DING THE NATION IN MEDICAL-PSYCHIATRIC CARE Selya 6 opened in 2012 in response to the community’s need for a higher level of care. This groundbreaking inpatient program is a modern, secure 16-bed unit treating patients who need around-the-clock care. Families from all over the country have turned to the program for help, often after exhausting other options closer to home. Named in recognition of Judge Bruce Selya and Cynthia Selya’s transformational philanthropic support, Selya 6 has become a destination program for families in need of the hospital’s unique expertise. “One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is thinking about the juxtaposition of a family that lands here on day one, exasperated, having tried so many different other treatments within both our system and throughout the country,” explains Matthew Willis, MD, Co-Director of the Partial Hospital Program. “And then comparing and contrasting that to both their day of discharge from our program, and maybe even more poignantly, to the communication that we receive down the road: the emails, the pictures, the letters, the words of encouragement to continue to do this work to support kids and families.”
Tracey Wallace and Maggie Kozal, MD
Pamela High, MD
Judge Bruce M. Selya
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THANK YOU ACROSS THE AIRWAVES
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hanks to the many sponsors, donors, and volunteers, the 2023 Radiothon raised $283,996! We couldn’t have done it without Cumulus Media Providence (92 PRO FM, Lite 105 FM, 630WPRO and HOT 106), our inspiring patient families, Jordan’s Furniture, Alexander’s Uniforms, Dunkin’, Providence Auto Body, David D. Schuller, Shaw’s Supermarket, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Nathan Clark & Associates, Walmart, Marshall Building & Remodeling, Pepsi Beverage Company, Cox Business, our monthly Miracle Makers, and so many others.
$1 MILLION MILESTONE UNDERSCORES SPIRIT HALLOWEEN’S COMMITMENT TO LOCAL KIDS
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here were no tricks, but there were plenty of treats when volunteers from Spirit Halloween brought an early taste of the spooky holiday to patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital on October 12. The frighteningly fun time is part of the company’s charitable “Spirit of Children” program, which has long supported the hospital. This year, the program surpassed $1 million raised locally for Hasbro Children’s since 2011.
fundraiser on behalf of the hospital, in addition to the parties. The campaign offers Rhode Islanders a coupon for 10% off their Halloween purchase, with Spirit then donating the 10% back to Hasbro Children’s.
During the Halloween “parties” in the hospital’s 4th and 5th floor playrooms, Spirit volunteers helped patients select a donated costume to keep as a gift as kids also enjoyed painting pumpkins and other special crafts. Some patients were also able to trick-or-treat at the nurse stations located on their floor. For more than a decade, Spirit has organized an annual in-store
The more than $1 million raised has helped support the hospital’s Child Life Services, which provide patients with a sense of normalcy during hospitalization through developmentally appropriate play. Certified Child Life Specialists also help to educate patients and their families about a child’s illness and what to expect during a test or procedure in non-scary ways.
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AIMING HIGH TO HELP KIDS
n a sunny summer day, more than 30 foursomes headed to Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington to swing into action for the children and families served by Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The fun-filled Hasbro Golf Invitational, held on July 24, raised $405,000 for patient-focused programs and services.
The tournament was co-chaired by Lifespan Board of Directors Chairman Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr. and his friend James “Jamo” Carr. This was the duo’s sixteenth year chairing this special event. Ethan James, the hospital’s 2023 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion Child, was also on hand to officially kick off the day of play with a ceremonial first golf swing.
Jamo Carr, Larry A. Aubin, Sr, Ethan James, and John Fernandez
The event’s live auction and fund-a-need appeal supported Compassionate Care Services, a collection of essential programs that nurture hearts and minds and are almost entirely funded by donors. They include Child Life, Healing Arts, The Adolescent Leadership Council, Patient and Family Consultant, and Child Protection, among others. During the program, Christine Barron, MD, Director, Division of Child Safe Program, and Meagan Fitzgerald, Program Manager of Advocacy & Prevention, spoke about the important work and mission of the Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr. Child Protection Center, one of the many programs that comprise Compassionate Care Services. Since the Invitational's inception 28 years ago, it has raised more than $6 million to support Hasbro Children’s patients and their families.
LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY
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lanned giving provides donors, like you, with a meaningful opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by supporting Hasbro Children's Hospital and positively impacting the future of patient care for generations to come.
This type of philanthropy—whether you designate Hasbro Children's Hospital as a beneficiary of your estate, retirement account, donor advised fund, or life insurance policy—enables the hospital to remain focused, in the long term, on its unyielding pursuit of excellence in the delivery of healthcare, pioneering research, medical education, and technology. For more information about planned giving and how it helps advance Hasbro Children's Hospital’s lifesaving work, visit us at lifespan.org\HCHLegacy or contact Chris Josephson, Manager of Annual and Planned Giving, at 401-444-6412 or email chris.josephson@lifespan.org. 15
2023 HEROES BALL WAS A SPECTACULAR SUCCESS
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he spirit of giving and ohana (family) filled the air as 600 attendees gathered for a tropical, Hawaiian-themed Hasbro Children’s Hospital Heroes Ball on the grounds of Rocky Hill Country Day School in East Greenwich. The annual event, held on August 19, was chaired by Melisa Verrecchia and co-chaired by Denise Chakoian and Keith and Lynne Kelly and raised $1,137,450 to support the hospital’s mission. Of the total, $293,350 benefited the evening’s fund-a-need for the hospital’s nationally renowned medicalpsychiatric program.
L-R: Keith and Lynne Kelly, Denise Chakoian, Melisa Verrecchia and Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr.
Donors’ inspiring generosity will allow Hasbro Children’s Hospital to significantly expand outpatient services for patients who have co-existing medical and psychiatric needs, ensuring that all children get the care they deserve and need after discharge. Patient speaker Shamikia Perry shared her journey of hope and healing from Crohn’s Disease and depression thanks to care she received at the hospital several years ago. “I’ll always be grateful for the outpouring of love and support I felt from the staff at Hasbro Children’s Hospital,” said Shamikia, who is now a security guard at the hospital and a pre-nursing student. “It helped me feel, for the first time, like I mattered. And that’s a feeling all kids deserve to have.”
L-R: G. Dean Roye, MD; Tracey Wallace; Phyllis Dennery, MD; Francois I. Luks, MD, PhD
The crucial need for funding was shared through a video highlighting 13-year-old Gabby’s lifechanging experience with the hospital’s partial hospital program. Gabby received care for functional neurological disorder, a medical condition where patients experience neurologic symptoms that can be impairing but are not caused by any identifiable medical condition. The fund-a-need appeal kicked off with two generous $25,000 donations, and at the $2,500 level, Hasbro Inc. announced they would generously match up to $50,000 in donations. Auctioneer Tom Stebbins invited Gabby to the stage to help
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count $2,500 donations. In the end, 23 donors raised their paddle and Hasbro Inc. agreed to match the $57,500. Later in the fund-a-need appeal, 8-year-old Gemma and 11-year-old Ethan, the hospital’s 2023 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion Child, both Hasbro Children’s patients, gleefully helped auctioneer Tom Stebbins rally more of the crowd and high-five donors. In addition, funds to support the hospital’s areas of greatest need were raised during a competitive live auction. Coveted items included dreamy travel vacation packages; a private chef’s dinner for 10 prepared by the owner of the Providence restaurant, Persimmon; and luxury suite packages for New England Patriots and Boston Bruins games. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win three luxurious jewelry prizes donated by Providence Diamond Company.
Ethan and Gemma
Faux palm trees and other colorful décor; tropical food and drink; and Hawaiian music, hula, and fire dancing performances also added to the festive atmosphere. “The Heroes Ball is a celebration of everything that makes Hasbro Children’s Hospital so special,” said Lifespan Board of Directors Chairman Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr. in his remarks, which included a moment of silence for those affected by the devastating wildfires on Maui. Hasbro Children’s Hospital extends its appreciation and gratitude to everyone who helped make the 2023 Heroes Ball possible, including the event committee, presenting sponsors Friends of Jack Foundation, Hasbro, Inc., and IGT, platinum sponsors Brown Physicians, Inc., Citizens, and Greenwich Business Capital, and many other sponsors and donors. Continued on next page
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THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS! PRESENTING SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS Denise Chakoian & David Olney
PROVIDENCE DIAMOND
Christopher and Mary Elleen Patton
The Verrecchia Family Foundation
COPPER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS Amgen, Inc.
First Bristol Corporation
AAA Northeast
AMN Healthcare
Green Line Apothecary
Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
Aramark
Lynch & Pine Attorneys at Law, LLC
Alight Solutions
Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC
The Murray Family Charitable Foundation
Bank of America
Pepsi Beverage Company
The Charness Family
Rhode Island Medical Imaging, Inc.
Collette
Textron, Inc.
Bernkopf
Cox Business
The Tomorrow Fund
Bristol County Savings Bank
Day Pitney LLP
United Natural Foods, Inc.
Delta Dental of Rhode Island
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Thomas Depetrillo Jonathan and Ruth Fain
Aya Healthcare Ballyʼs Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort BankNewport Bentley Companies
Paul Busby Coastal1 Credit Union David and Renee Charlton
Herrick & White Architectural Woodworkers Kristen and Ralph Liguori Littler Marcum LLP Mercer Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island The Neurosurgery Foundation, Inc. Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP PensionmarkMeridien Rhode Island Novelty, Inc.
Davitt Design Build, Inc.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, Point32Health Companies
Lisa Dunkle Scheffler, MD
W.B. Mason Company, Inc.
Epic
The Washington Trust Company
Falvey Insurance Group
Webster Bank Sponsors as of 8.10.2023
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HONORING A COMMUNITY CHAMPION WITH A GIFT THAT HELPS KIDS The “it” was a gift of $50,000 to Hasbro Children’s, in Al’s name and honor, and with him having the opportunity to designate where the funds would benefit. “I was touched,” says Al. “My entire experience with Iron Mountain was terrific.”
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Gerrie and Al Verrecchia
arly in his career, Al Verrecchia, the retired former CEO of Hasbro, Inc. and stalwart supporter of Hasbro Children’s, received a piece of advice he never forgot. It was, if invited, always consider joining the board of a company involved in business different than what you already do, so you can find new ways to contribute and learn. And so, in 2008, when leaders from Iron Mountain reached out for his interest to join their board, Al knew it was something he needed to explore. The Boston-based company is a global leader in storage and information management services—quite the contrast from Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe. “I had experience transitioning from a family business to a public company, and that’s where they felt my acumen and perspective would be valuable,” recalls Al, who would join Iron Mountain’s board in 2010. Fast forward to July 2023, when Al was readying for his final meeting as board chair, a post he held for a decade. The company had something special in store. “Al doesn’t like surprises, but everyone knows how much he loves the hospital, so they did it anyway,” smiles Gerrie, his wife of nearly 60 years.
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Familiar with the hospital’s needs, Al and Gerrie decided to split the gift—$30,000 for its pediatric medicalpsychiatric program, and $20,000 to support Child Life. The couple not only has personal interest in these areas, but they’ve also set an example their daughters have followed. Melisa is deeply involved with Hasbro Children’s, including having chaired two Heroes Balls. And Michele serves on the Foundation Board of its sister hospital, Bradley. “These are areas of focus for our family’s philanthropy, and the Iron Mountain gift allowed us to complement the interest we all have in children’s mental health and pediatric care,” says Gerrie. “We wanted a special way to recognize the significant contribution Al made to Iron Mountain during his long tenure as our Chair of the Board of Directors,” said Pam Arway, the company’s current board chair. “Knowing how much the hospital means to Al and his family, we were pleased to make this donation as a way to express our gratitude and appreciation for its important work with children, as well as for Al’s distinguished service to Iron Mountain.” Al and Gerrie are forever quick to credit Hasbro’s Hassenfeld family as their inspiration for giving back. Vivid memories of the impact Merrill and Sylvia— and later, their sons Alan and Stephen—had in the community moved them to want to do the same. “Toys and children have been very good to us, never could I have imagined the blessed life we lead,” says Al. “We are fortunate, and that comes with a social responsibility that Gerrie and I both embrace.”
CONTINUING A LEGACY OF CARING FOR KIDS
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elisa Verrecchia, whose parents, Al and Gerrie, have been deeply involved with Hasbro Children’s since it first opened its doors, has forged her own connection to the hospital through her passion for helping kids. She serves on the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation Board, the Hasbro Children’s Hospital Leadership Council, and has chaired two Heroes Balls. Recently, she shared insight on what has inspired her along the way. What led you to become so involved with Hasbro Children’s Hospital? Giving back was always a constant conversation in my house growing up. The Hassenfeld family— beginning with Sylvia and Merrill—was so giving and philanthropic, and that had a big impact on my parents. They never pushed me or my siblings, but my parents set a great example of paying it forward. My dad always said the best way to get to know an organization was to donate your time, so when I was invited to join my first Heroes Ball committee, I jumped at the chance. I’ve become involved with so much more since, and it has been everything I could have hoped for. Growing up with such close ties to Hasbro, Inc., how did that shape your view of the hospital that shares its namesake? You often hear about corporate greed, but that was not my reality. My reality was a family-owned business that achieved success and gave just as much back. I watched Hasbro, Inc. mobilize the community to build a children’s hospital and that was so powerful. To see people I knew my whole life—Alan Hassenfeld, Wayne Charness, my father—recognize this need and bring their vision to life filled me with a lot of pride. Now that I’m involved as I am, I appreciate even more
L-R: Chris and Michele Levy, Gerrie and Al Verrecchia, Melisa Verrecchia, and Andy Marr
all that Hasbro, Inc. helped to make possible. Just as importantly, that commitment continues today. I am especially grateful to Chris Cocks, Hasbro, Inc.’s current CEO, for so strongly supporting the hospital. How important is it for the next generation of Rhode Islanders to get involved with the hospital? It’s more than important, it’s critical. All of us, including our kids as they get older, will know someone who needs Hasbro Children’s. We are a small state, and the doctors and staff there care for their neighbors—you see them in the market, at school. Hasbro Children’s is an amazing community resource that is here to serve us, but it also depends on us to be able to do that. Everyone has something to offer in support of making the hospital the best it can be, and I can promise there are few feelings better than knowing you’re making a real difference in the lives of children and families.
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A SHARED MISSION OF HEALING AND HOPE “Our mission dictates that any child diagnosed with cancer who is treated at Hasbro Children's Hospital is part of The Tomorrow Fund,” says Executive Director Lisa Abbenante. Through the organization, every family of every patient treated at Hasbro Children’s for cancer receives financial help to ease the burdens of treatment. The nonprofit also provides $240,000 of annual support for clinical roles and wraparound services in The Tomorrow Fund Clinic. In addition, Lisa and her team hold remembrance nights and are there to support parents and families through every step of the journey. Together, Hasbro Children’s Hospital and Tomorrow Fund Clinic staff build special, often long-term, relationships with patient families.
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very year, about 200 families hear this devastating news at Hasbro Children’s Hospital: “Your child has cancer.” While nothing can take away the shock and pain, the physicians and staff at Hasbro Children’s are among the very best with the most advanced treatments and care available. Add to that the extra support of The Tomorrow Fund, and families feel embraced by the community around them. For almost 40 years, the partnership has brought muchneeded comfort and help to patients and families fighting a battle no child should have to fight. The independent nonprofit The Tomorrow Fund offers wideranging assistance, including financial and emotional support, to patients receiving cancer treatment at Hasbro Children’s. It is best known for its support of the hospital’s pediatric hematology/oncology center, The Tomorrow Fund Clinic, which was named in recognition of its philanthropy.
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Another important aspect of The Tomorrow Fund at Hasbro Children’s is its annual sponsorship of two summer camps for patients and their siblings: Camp Dotty for children ages 4 to 7 and Camp Tomorrow for those age 8 to 11. The Child Life Services team oversees all activities, ensuring safety and inclusivity for all participants, who attend at no cost. “It’s really meaningful for us to be able to host these camps,” Lisa says. “They’re getting to enjoy being kids, while doing so in an environment that prioritizes their unique health needs.” The Tomorrow Fund was founded in 1985, before Hasbro Children’s Hospital was built, by a group of medical personnel and parents. The organization supports itself through donations and sponsorships from individuals and organizations, as well as hosting special events throughout the year, including an annual gala in the fall and golf tournament in the summer. “Once your child is diagnosed with cancer, you become part of The Tomorrow Fund family forever,” Lisa says. “We are always there for them.”
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A PAW-SOME LEGACY
hen Providence attorney David Schechter added Hasbro Children’s Hospital to his trust, the decision was so much more than just estate planning. The generous action was inspired by the countless moments of compassion, care, and hope he has witnessed at the hospital over two decades. His role as owner of two of the hospital’s pet therapy dogs, Moby and Micah, and the volunteer service that goes along with it, offers him the opportunity to interact with patients and staff on a regular basis. “Hasbro Children’s Hospital is a special place for me,” David says. “It presents a loving and caring atmosphere for the patients and their families, in addition to providing some of the best healthcare available.” Pet therapy is a program overseen at Hasbro Children’s by Child Life Services. The program brings trained dogs and their owners to several areas of the hospital, including inpatient units and pediatric intensive care. The animals offer comfort, joy, and stress reduction to patients, families, and staff.
of a “celebrity status” around the hospital. Staff often take time out of their busy days to pet them, and patients and families frequently request visits. The dogs are extremely gentle with patients. In fact, before taking Moby and Micah home as puppies, David asked his breeder to select the most docile dogs in their respective litters. “When they walk into the room, it’s incredible to see how they can feel what’s going on with the family and patient and adjust their behavior accordingly,” David says. Through his volunteer work with the dogs, he has met families from all over the country who come to Hasbro Children’s Hospital for specialized care. Sometimes it’s the patient’s mother or father who needs the most support, he adds, and he is grateful that one of his “boys” can offer it. David, who is semi-retired, describes his role with Hasbro Children’s as a large and important part of his life. “I don’t have kids of my own,” he says. “So, if there was a void in my life, this work has definitely filled it.”
David has established a trust, a portion of which has been earmarked to benefit the Child Life and Pet Therapy programs. “It comforts me to know that I have made provisions to support the programs about which I deeply care,” he says. He started volunteering with his first dogs, Maxwell and Montgomery, about 20 years ago. “I was playing in a hospital golf tournament with one of my friends, who is a pediatrician, and heard that the hospital had just started a pet therapy program,” David recalls. “I had dogs at home, so I said, ‘Let me and the boys get involved.’” His support has not wavered since. David typically volunteers twice a week with his friendly Golden Retrievers, who alternate days. His dogs have somewhat
David Schechter with therapy dogs Moby and Micah
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HELPING OTHER KIDS, ONE CUP AT A TIME
n a hot July day, nine-year-old Theo Dursin stood in his neighborhood holding a handmade sign and made a sales pitch to passing drivers: “Get your lemonade … You don’t know what you’re missing out on.” This year, the Wakefield boy held his third annual lemonade stand to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital. So far, Theo’s summer project has raised more than $3,000 to benefit the hospital’s areas of greatest need.
“They come by and say to Theo, ‘ 'You're so awesome,' and then they empty their wallets,” Joanne says. His effort has received local TV news coverage and the family has publicized it on Facebook. Because of that outreach, he has received donations by mail and Venmo. “And sometimes people will hand us donations in the grocery store,” Joanne adds.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Theo, then six, had an idea. “We were driving to church, and he said, ‘Everyone’s thinking about COVID, but what about the kids who have cancer? We need to do something to help them, too,’” recalls his mom, Joanne.
This past year, Theo unexpectedly experienced his own challenges and found out what it’s like to be a patient at Hasbro Children’s. He received several diagnoses from the hospitals’ specialists, including an autoimmune thyroid condition and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Theo’s efforts began small. He raised $75 his first year and added $25 of his own money for a $100 donation. In 2022, he ramped up his efforts and earned $1,000. This year, he doubled that, donating a little over $2,000.
Receiving compassionate care at Hasbro Children’s has only increased Theo’s dedication to his lemonade stand. He’s already planning for next summer, when he will attempt to beat his 2023 total.
Theo does not specify a price per cup. Rather, he asks his patrons to donate what they can. The family lives near several University of Rhode Island students, who often support his cause.
“This project really came out of his own effort and desire, and we are happy to support him,” Joanne says. “I think it’s so important to encourage giving back to the community, even at a young age.”
Healthy Futures, a publication of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, is published for our friends and supporters. At times we share news and information with our donors electronically. If you’d like to receive timely updates by email and help us reduce paper and postage costs, please email HCHGiving@lifespan.org. We invite you to learn more by contacting the Development Office at 401-444-4639 giving.lifespan.org/Hasbro.